Too hot, or too cold, can be too annoying. If your air conditioning unit isn’t functioning at its full potential, there may be a few simple things you can do around the house to bring the temperature down.
Filter Replacement
This is a simple fix that often gets overlooked. When a filter is full, it blocks the unit from easily blowing cool air into the rooms and pulling hot air out of the home. Change out HVAC filters in your home every few months. If your outside AC unit has a filter, replacing it every 1-3 months with a quality filter allows your AC unit to run at its maximum efficiency.
Door and Window Insulation
If you can see a sliver of light after you close the door or you can fit a nickel between the edge of the door and the frame, you are letting hot air in while also losing cold air through the cracks. A strip of foam insulation around your entry doors, windows frames and sliding glass door edges can lower your indoor temperatures by a few degrees.
Air Duct Maintenance
A qualified professional can check your air ducts for issues and give them a proper cleaning. A professional service tech will clean the branch ducts down to the main trunk line and check the cold air return and supply ductwork. A thorough cleaning should even include getting the gunk from the slats of the ceiling registers. When the air ducts are in good working order, they don’t make the air conditioner work overtime.
Evaporator and Condenser Oil Cleaning
When dirt and grime gather on the AC coils, it makes it harder for the machine to transfer heat. This makes the unit work harder and longer. Dirty coils can corrode, which leads to refrigerant leaks. A tech will clean the coils and check the refrigerant levels to ensure your machine is performing at its best.
Panel and Electrical
A professional AC tech can make sure that all of the breakers are in the correct position and aren’t flipped over to “Off” or otherwise in limbo between the two positions. They will check the wire connections and replace them if they appear old, frayed or otherwise damaged and check all of the screws that connect the wires to ensure they have a solid link to the thermostat and other electrical parts of the HVAC system.
Seasonal Maintenance
The harsh, hot winds that blow through the valley during the summer can wreak havoc on your outdoor unit. Check around the unit for any debris that may have found its way into its grates. Prune any shrubs near your air conditioner compressor on a regular basis to give the unit room to breathe and work well.
Think of One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating as your tech medic. You take time to care for your health with an annual checkup, your air conditioner also needs a good once over by a professional to make sure its systems are operating at their full function to keep you cool all summer long.
Call 702-745-4923 to schedule your maintenance or repair today or click here to schedule online.
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal were not involved in the creation of this content.